Local News
"Spring-like temperatures have taken a toll on area lakes, including the Chequamegon Bay at Ashland, where four people escaped uninjured after two vehicles broke through thin ice over the weekend."
"In his December claim, Kerr sought $10 million in compensatory damages for each of his claims against the Bednar-Clemens and Judge Patrick Madden, and $30,000 in punitive damages from each."
"The state Assembly today came up short in its attempt to override Gov. Jim Doyle’s veto of a measure that would have allowed residents to carry concealed weapons."
"Meyer would not name the source that provided him the summaries of investigators’ interviews with Judge and former Assembly Democratic staff members Tanya M. Bjork, Raghu Devaguptapu and Scot Ross."
"The problems so far were caused by errors. After 30 days, the pharmacy benefit manager companies will be allowed to restrict medications."
"Help Wisconsin, or help send Wisconsin's money overseas? That's the question the state Senate confronts as it considers whether to give ethanol a boost or to favor gasoline by maintaining the status quo."
"A new state law, the Wisconsin Livestock Premises Registration Act, now requires anyone who keeps livestock, poultry, captive game birds and other animals to register their premises. Included in the law, in effect since Jan. 1, are farms, veterinarian clinics, exhibition grounds, slaughtering facilities and trucker and dealer locations"
Sen
R. Feingold"As we mourn the passing of Mrs. King, we must honor her life by ensuring that her message of peace and justice marches on."
“Today I am asking the Attorney General to explain his misleading testimony during his confirmation hearings when I asked him whether the President had the power to authorize warrantless wiretaps in violation of the criminal law."
“The Pell grant program has benefited millions of Americans and we must ensure that this widely successful program continues to help make higher education a reality for those who lack the means to pay for it.”
Sen
H. Kohl"I am proud the CED recognized what we all know about Wisconsin: It is a great place to start a business and raise a family,"
"These standards are the fruit of collaborative negotiations among a broad coalition of the agricultural community,"
"There were 450 fewer construction jobs in December in northwest Wisconsin, while manufacturing employment dropped by 240 jobs."
"Gas prices across the region jumped as much as 25 cents Monday, with stations posting prices nearing $2.50 for a gallon of regular unleaded."
"The rule requires governments to calculate and disclose the cost of promised non-pension retirement benefits - retirees' health care, for instance - and the money needed to pay them annually. Issued last year by the Government Accounting Standards Board, the rule is aimed at making governments pay for various retirement benefits in the same way they now save for pensions."
"From everything the governor has seen, the process was followed in the appropriate way by a widely respected civil servant," Leistikow said. "Nothing he has seen yet changes that."
"As rebounding economic conditions take hold in the rest of the country, the outlook for the Chequamegon Bay area is one of steady, if unspectacular growth."
Sen
R. Feingold“Today I am asking the Attorney General to explain his misleading testimony during his confirmation hearings when I asked him whether the President had the power to authorize warrantless wiretaps in violation of the criminal law."
"The report makes clear that we are paying a heavy price for the Administration’s decision to lead us into war without a plan to manage the aftermath of the military operation.”
"The Democrat is Wisconsin's U.S. Senator Russ Feingold. He consistently gets good marks from government watchdog groups for fiscal responsibility. For that reason alone, I'd vote for him."
""Too many units of government, if they are tapped out on property taxes, turn to fees," Musser said. His proposal limits local fee and tax increases to annual Consumer Price Index gains, plus the value of new construction. It would require voter approval to exceed spending limits, raise taxes or approve long-term debt."
"But then "Tire-Poking Case," or even "Letting-Air-Out-Of-Tires Case" doesn't carry nearly the violent, dramatic imagery as "Tire-Slashing Case.""
Sen
R. Feingold"But Mr. Santorum was a chief opponent of Mr. McCain and Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., when they spent years in the Senate trying to pass a ban on "soft money" -- unlimited contributions to political parties -- and other changes to campaign finance regulations."
Rep
D. Obey"Obey is the top-ranking Democrat on the powerful Appropriations Committee, but Tyberg isn't impressed by that. He said the GOP controls the House and would show appreciation to a newly-elected Republican by helping to return federal money to the congressional district."
""What counts is not what people yap about but what they actually do," said Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau. "I hope to God he doesn't screw up health care like he screwed up the prescription drug benefit for seniors.""
Mark
Green
"Mark Graul, campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Mark Green, Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor, apparently took an improper gift from a lobbyist while working as the congressman's top aide."
"In addition, Wisconsin's testing regimen in all parts of the state has turned up few positive deer outside an endemic region west of Madison, he said."
"This is a charge against Georgia Thompson," Lipscomb said. "Nothing should be presumed about anything else or against any other person."
""We feel it's important to recognize their service," Van Rooy said, and make sure that active duty does not constitute a financial hardship for them or their family."
"Wanserski, 55, went beyond what the city required, Gehin said. He granted a 15-foot wide easement for about 1.5 miles of recreational trails that will wind through the 27-acre nature conservancy. He also constructed the eight-foot-wide, red granite trail last year and has agreed to maintain it throughout its life."
Sen
R. Feingold"I kind of doubt it, but it would be a good thing if we could stop this," Feingold said in a telephone interview Friday. "I've made it clear to people all along that I think the Senate should use whatever procedures we have."
"The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which I chair, recently held its first hearing on lobbying reform. Our witnesses, including Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold, offered a broad perspective on these issues."
"Snowmobilers clamor to get here as soon as the snow hits the ground," Kelly said. The first couple of weekends of snowmobiling have a great economic impact on the area, she added."
"Lundgren's dismissal as deacon follows an improper conduct allegation filed by a Hurley Head Start employee with the Hurley Police Department on Jan. 12."
"Six bureaucrats and political appointees in the state Department of Administration separate an indicted civil-service worker from Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle."
"If you have a biased party funding a study, the study will be tainted," said Robin Stearns, who's fighting an ATC- proposed power line near her Waunakee home. "We should have learned this from the tobacco industry. They're still trying to tell us secondhand smoke isn't dangerous."
"To that end, we've selected 12 beers to sample throughout the year from some Wisconsin breweries. But don't feel these are the only ones to try; visit a brewpub and ask about its seasonal offering. Take home a six-pack of something you've never had"
“[I am] happy to see the Democrats that had supported the bill when it first went through the Senate stuck to their guns and voted to override the governor today,”
"According to the survey, “more than 75 percent of students at 2-year colleges and more than 50 percent of students at 4-year colleges do not score at the proficient level of literacy.”"
"A group of private health clubs had argued the exemption was unconstitutional, but the 4th District Court of Appeals disagreed in affirming a decision by Dane County Circuit Court Judge Robert De Chambeau."
"The Nature Conservancy is planning to do a logging project on 200 acres of forest at its 1,000-acre preserve at Caroline Lake near Mellen, according to a news release.
The goal is to restore the area's landscape with trees that grew prior to cut-and-burn logging techniques used during the 1800's and early 1900's, the release states. "
Sen
R. Feingold"The report concludes that massive unforeseen security costs, administrative overhead, and waste have crippled original reconstruction strategies and have prevented the completion of up to half of the work originally called for in critical sectors such as water, power, and electricity."
"Feingold says he wants the briefing ahead of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing scheduled February sixth. Experts and lawmakers from both parties have questioned the legality of the program, in which the government listened to conversations in the United States without a warrant."
"The new building trades program at Mercer School has received a $3,500 grant to buy tools."
"Researchers whose work was published today in the journal Science say they have found infectious prions - the agents that are believed to cause chronic wasting disease - in the leg muscles of infected mule deer, a finding that's likely to raise concerns among many of the hundreds of thousands of deer hunters in Wisconsin."
"Nettles called the ads "morally reprehensible" and claimed that they rely on "race baiting and fear mongering.""
"The 250-page, map-filled, photo-chocked Wisconsin Land Legacy Report provides what conservation officials are calling a "greenprint" for Wisconsin - an inventory of natural treasures that the people of the state have told the DNR are worth special attention and protection in the next 50 years."
"One bit of snowkiting history is for certain, though - it can be traced, in part, back to the state of Wisconsin. In the mid-1980s, a Wisconsinite by the name of Steve Shapson strapped on some skis, launched a stunt kite and took off across one of our frozen lakes, harnessing the wind for power."
"Since 1978, the Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation has tried to draw a very strict line between church and state. The most recent incarnation of that pursuit has come in the form of preventing federal dollars from falling into the hands of faith-based initiatives."
"The Wausau Mine Company could become the first restaurant to receive an exemption from the city's ban on smoking. Food and alcohol sales have declined more than 10 percent since the City Council enacted the ban last summer, General Manager Colleen Kell said. "
"The memo stated the Arkansas-based retail giant planned to turn its 71,000 square-foot store into a 176,000 square-foot Supercenter complete with a grocery section, tire and lube service and lawn and garden center."
Sen
R. Feingold“I am honored to receive this high mark from an organization that is committed to improving the lives of millions of Americans by defending and advancing civil rights,”
"Similarly, don’t believe it when people say that further gift and travel restrictions won’t make any difference. If those restrictions are clear enough and tough enough, they will."
"If you or officials in your administration believe that FISA, or any law, does not give you enough authority to combat terrorism, you should propose changes in the law to Congress," wrote Sens. Harry Reid, Edward Kennedy, Richard Durbin and Russ Feingold. "You may not simply disregard the law."
Sen
H. Kohl"The PACE Act creates more math and science teachers, offers scholarships for students to pursue math, science and engineering degrees, increases our investment in energy research and doubles the tax credit for research and development."
"Without additional LIHEAP funding, too many Wisconsin families will not be able to afford to stay warm this winter."
Rep
D. Obey“To restore the public’s faith in the system, lobby reform is necessary and should be done, but the only way to address the fundamental problem is to end the abuse of House rules by the Republican leadership and take all private money out of politics. That is what our plans are intended to do.”
"Also unlike the presidential fund, which candidates can opt not to use, Obey's plan would be mandatory and would prohibit independent expenditures by advocacy groups."
This information gets transferred for reference to the local calendar which can be read by clicking the link in the top banner.
"Lundgren's dismissal as deacon follows an improper conduct allegation filed by a Hurley Head Start employee with the Hurley Police Department on Jan. 12."
"The Iron County burglaries were investigated by Lt. Tony Furyk, who worked with Vilas County authorities in recovering property worth more than $30,000. The stolen items were recovered in Crandon and returned to Iron County."
"In the fall of 2004, a computer technician at the department noted that DeLeon was logging on to the Web for long periods and visiting inappropriate sites, including music chat rooms, eBay, a site that claimed to sell legal marijuana and "even bizarre (though legal) forms of pornography that in some cases plumbed the depths of human depravity," according to the arbitrator."
"Impose a revenue limit on Wisconsin's 426 school districts equal to increases in enrollment and the three-year change in inflation. School districts that are losing students would have their revenue limits determined by inflation only."
"the bill would impact the life expectancy of the highway system and have significant cost implications related to the preservation of the highway structure."
""It is a very common scenario in winter when you have birds coming together in feeding places and spreading salmonella, especially with the warm conditions," Langenberg said. "That helps the bacteria survive and infect birds that come to the feeders.""
Sen
R. Feingold"Senator Russ Feingold asked Alito if, hypothetically, a convicted man was scheduled to be executed, and then evidence appeared that found the man to be actually innocent, the innocent person has the Constitutional right not to be executed. As reported, Judge Alito refused to say that the innocent man would have a Constitutional right to not be killed by the state. He evaded the question with legalistic maneuvers, saying that the man could file a petition to the court."
Sen
H. Kohl"In a letter to the Justice Department's Special Counsel for Agriculture, the Milwaukee Democrat urged a redoubling of efforts to prevent anti-competitive market conditions and full and active coordination with USDA's beleaguered Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration whose performance was found to be deficient in a recent USDA report."
Rep
D. Obey"Feingold, by the way, took no privately-funded trips last year. Neither did his fellow Wisconsin politicians Sen. Herb Kohl, Rep. David Obey and Rep. Mark Green." ..."IT IS ALSO INTERESTING to note some of the destinations for Wisconsin's traveling politicians. We see no trips to, say, North Dakota or Nebraska."
"Things are not going to get any better for us. They will get worse and worse. Our fund balance will continue to be reduced."
"In an Aug. 31 ruling, Madden placed Laguna under house arrest, "not to leave except for medical appointments for himself or his family, or to confer with his attorney.""
"Voters in the Mercer School District will decide in April whether to let the district exceed state tax levy limits by $250,000 per year for three years."
"Snowmobilers protested the new rules because they would allow hunting for four days in December in the far north in areas overpopulated with deer."
"In an experiment designed to boost reader interest, the Wisconsin State Journal allows readers to go on its Web site every weekday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and vote for their favorite out of five story ideas. Barring late-breaking news, the winning story typically will appear on the front page the next day."
"When we landed, all the soldiers ran up to Senator McCain," said Feingold, "and all the women ran up to Hillary. And I stood there alone, holding my bags."
"Kmart in Wausau will close its doors in April to make way for a new Highway 51/29 bypass. There are no plans to open a new one, company spokeswoman Lisa Gibbons said. Customers will have to find a new pharmacy immediately, because the Kmart pharmacy will close Wednesday."
Sen
R. Feingold"A whole series of analyses by law professors and news organizations has shown that Judge Alito is very deferential toward the government, and one detailed analysis by the Washington Post concluded that he is more deferential than his Third Circuit colleagues and even than Republican-appointed appeals judges nationwide. This vividly demonstrates the concern I have about this nomination. Judge Alito is not simply a conservative judge appointed by a conservative President. His record is that of a jurist with a clear inclination to rule in favor of the government and against individual rights."
"One leading Senate critic of the NSA eavesdropping said Hayden's assurances that the program is restricted left him unconvinced. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., said he was particularly concerned the agency is engaging in domestic data mining."
Sen
H. Kohl"At a time in our history when the balance between our security and our civil liberties requires the active involvement of the courts, Judge Alito's deference to Presidential power concerns us. He promoted the radical idea of a "unitary executive" -- the concept that the President is greater than -- not equal to -- the other branches of government. Judges are meant to protect us from unlawful surveillance and detention -- not simply abide the President's wishes."
"With increasing consolidation in this sector, individual farmers continue to suffer from inequities in bargaining position with packers, stockyards and processors that make them particularly vulnerable to anti-competitive behavior"
Rep
D. Obey"Four members of the delegation took no privately funded trips last year: Republican Rep. Mark Green, Democratic Rep. David Obey, and the state's two Democratic senators, Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold."
O'Neill happy with third
book ""Yaps," released in November, is the third O'Neill book of poetry published by March Street Press of Greensboro, N.C., in 2005. It follows "Root Zone" and "How Winter Comes to the Copper Country.""
"After being in a comatose state for 30 days, followed by extensive therapy both in the hospital and then at home, Josie returned to school in September, and Josie's parents worked diligently to return their son to the ice."
"The former Ironwood radio personality who'd bring his listeners deer hunting reports from the wilds of Muka's garage in Norrie Location is alive and well at WOKY radio station in Milwaukee, and he has some news."
(Click HERE to listen to live stream... requires Windows Media Player.)
"One community was so incensed by the technical college increase that it delivered its tax support under protest, and another fired off a letter claiming that every youth in the local high school could go to Harvard University for the local vocational college tax bill."
"I wouldn't mind if I died five minutes from now because I think the movement has started," said Haddock, who walked 3,200 miles across the country six years ago to draw attention to the issue of campaign finance reform."
""All the publicity about the bankruptcy code was that it was going to be a lot worse for debtors when the new law came in," Anzivino added. "Once you put that spin on it, everybody was going to rush to get filed under the old law.""
Sen
R. Feingold“The President is authorizing surveillance of Americans without a court order in violation of federal law and the Constitution. He still hasn’t explained why he needs to break the law to protect our country from terrorists.”
"Today I am calling on the Director of National Intelligence, the Defense Secretary and the Director of the NSA to explain whether and how the government is using data mining technology, and what authority it claims for doing so."
"They could stand behind a true liberal like Wisconsin senator Russ Feingold (of campaign finance reform fame) who actually did vote against the Iraq War and who would put some effort into dismantling Bush's irresponsible budget deficit."
"Four members of the delegation took no privately funded trips last year: Republican Rep. Mark Green, Democratic Rep. David Obey, and the state's two Democratic senators, Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold... "If a trip is worth taking, members of Congress should be prepared to justify paying for it out of their office accounts," Feingold said."
"Wal-Mart is one of the most profitable companies in the world, yet it has more than 1,200 employees and dependents on BadgerCare - far more than any other company in the state," Doyle said. "And Wisconsin's taxpayers are picking up the tab."
"Programs of some kind are needed to make college affordable, even for people in the middle class and certainly for low- income people."
"In it, McCoy draws on more than 30 years of research and sometimes dangerous fieldwork to put the torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib into a 50- year historical context. His work implicates the CIA in the use and propagation of psychological torture techniques worldwide."
"Amid complaints that ordinary citizens have been shut out of legislative hearings, the People's Legislature will take over part of the State Capitol on Monday to give them a chance to talk to their legislators."
"A group of Northwoods residents interested in the environment, the economy and recreation is being assembled to determine the future of ATVs in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest."
"In the most recent case, it is unclear whether any of Hall's deer escaped and whether any of those deer were afflicted with the disease - a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in which an abnormal protein invades the brain and disrupts the deer's ability to eat and drink."
"The bill does not create a single job, help a single Wisconsin citizen afford health care or improve schools for a single Wisconsin child," Doyle said in a statement. "The Legislature should spend more time trying to get jobs into our communities instead of more guns."
"But even more palpable was the appreciation of having face time with their U.S. senator an elected official still close enough to the grass roots to receive a phone call from a constituent and be able to take action to solve one person's problem."
"Endorsements from Wisconsin People, the state AFL-CIO and other influential groups such as police and sheriffs associations take on added importance in a contested primary race, experts say. That's doesn't even include the money - Wisconsin People could throw as much as $21,500 into Falk's campaign and the AFL-CIO expects to send Lautenschlager $5,000, Weeks and Newby said."
"The 2-year-old law produced more lower-cost units than projected, distributed them throughout the city as hoped and didn't cause developers to flee the city for surrounding communities as feared, the 33-page report released by the city Planning Department on Friday says."
Rep
D. Obey"You can talk all you want about nibbling at the margins about ethics and House rules and all the rest, but unless we deal with the nexus between politics and money, damned little is actually going to change over time," Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin said in a telephone interview.
"The board will decide whether to hold a referendum in the April election to exceed the tax levy limits imposed by the state."
"A report released Thursday says the state's rebounding economy will generate an additional $93 million in tax collections by mid-2007 - money that legislators say they might have to use to cover a rising deficit in health care costs."
"Smiling at that irony, he added: "There'll be plenty of Republican signs. I'm not worried about one Kerry sign."
"Critics of the limits say they are unfair to the most severely injured medical malpractice victims and do little to keep overall health care costs down."
""I really think the characters are terrific," responds cartoonist John Kovalic, creator of Dork Tower. "Kind of the perfect mix between Disney World and Guantanamo Bay. I can't wait for the theme park." He adds that "being a geek," he tried the games and they were fun "in a get-ready-to-sell-your-friends-to-the-secret-police kind of way."
Sen
R. Feingold"In the three weeks since it was launched, the Medicare prescription drug benefit has resulted in frustration, confusion, expensive medications, and sometimes no medications at all for many senior and disabled citizens. These problems are potentially life-threatening and they need to be fixed immediately."
Sen
H. Kohl"It is inexcusable that the cost of providing these drugs has fallen on low-income individuals, pharmacies and states, while the Administration refuses to take responsibility."
Rep
D. Obey
“Since Congress first approved my request for funding for the Transportation and Logistics Management program at UW-Superior in 1999, the University of Wisconsin-Superior has become a leader in transportation research and in training young people for management jobs in the transportation industry,”
"Fifty to 60 turkeys will be released in the Saxon area by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, assisted by the Snowbelt Longbeards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation."
"Madeleine Morichetti of Fifth Avenue North in Hurley officially withdrew her challenge to Brian Tarro of Maple Street on Tuesday."
"Education and a real commitment to high-tech education trumps infrastructure,"
"Lawmakers in two states are proposing broad abortion bans they hope will eventually win approval from a reconfigured, more conservative high court. Legislators elsewhere are seeking to tighten a range of abortion restrictions; one leading liberal advocacy group gave 19 states - including Wisconsin - a failing grade on reproductive rights in a national status report issued Wednesday."
"But a State Journal analysis of the state's own data shows the claim, though arguably correct, includes tens of thousands of jobs - at least half the total number - that are the result of regular seasonal variations in employment between the months in question. Many of the other positive numbers Doyle used to tout his record as he heads into an election year fight stood up to spot checks Wednesday. And Doyle defended his use of the jobs figures in a meeting with the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board Wednesday."
"And what’s sad is that Dave Redick, at least today, stands as good of a chance as anyone to win the Republican nomination. As a result, Kohl is all but guaranteed another six years to lounge around the nation’s capital."
"It seems as if when the budget crunch hits a school district, there are some “sacred cows” still left to wander the halls. One is administrative staff and the other is athletics."
Sen
R. Feingold"Demand accountability at every level of your life and particularly from those you elect to positions of power. And only vote for candidates who show the strong character necessary to avoid corruption--for example, Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin who may be like the late, great Paul Wellstone, a man who always followed his conscience."
“Members of the Guard bring unique skills and abilities to their missions across the globe. It would be a serious mistake for us to make major cuts to the Guard at a time when we need the capabilities they possess more than ever.”
Rep
D. Obey" Representative David Obey, a Wisconsin Democrat, said many members of his party oppose tightening lobbying rules at a time when Democrats have a chance to regain a majority in Congress in the November elections. ``I've had a number of people who said, `Geez, you really want to do this, after the way Republicans have treated us?''' Obey said. ``Why would we guarantee them this stuff if we take control?'' "
Ironwood's Poet Laureate, Pat O'Neill, reads from his 3rd and latest book, Yaps, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25th at the Pine Tree Gallery, 824 East US Highway 2 in Ironwood
"Following a special closed session last week on administrative matters, the board did not take any formal action regarding eliminating a position. It may, however, issue non-renewal notices, also called pink slips, to elementary principal Donna Bessen and middle-high school principal Elizabeth Jorgensen."
"It was a warning. He was giving us a warning," Kangas said. "I do not like that. He was telling us that Iron County would look very unfavorably on it if we didn't go with his choice."
"Comments about Iron County Corporation Counsel Jodie Bednar-Clemens and her performance on the job are in, but the finance committee will not determine and announce the outcome of the performance evaluation until its February meeting."
"I can't thank the White Thunder Riders enough for showing me such a great time. We simply would not have snowmobiling in Wisconsin without the good work of snowmobile clubs like the White Thunder Riders,"
"In his fourth "state of the state" address - and his last before facing re-election this fall - the first-term Democrat proposed extending the state's BadgerCare program for the working poor to offer health care coverage to all children who aren't covered; called for a living wage tax credit that guarantees families won't live in poverty; and asked for a greater commitment to developing renewable energy sources and helping people with home heating costs."
"The deer were methodically shot at the preserve owned by Stan Hall of Almond by employees of the wildlife services unit of the U.S. Department of Agriculture."
"Now, any off-reservation casino must be approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - a process that takes years - and by the governor. Under the bill, any off-reservation casino approved by the federal government would have to go first to the Legislature and then to the governor."
"Announcing what he termed his "affordability agenda," the first-term governor proposed a series of initiatives to make living in Wisconsin easier on the pocketbook, including help paying for health insurance, energy bills and college tuition - and to retain and increase vital manufacturing and high-tech jobs."
"Stop reading for a moment. Flip this over. Notice that the backside of your newspaper is utterly unencumbered by cords, plugs, telephone jacks or USB connections. To hell with Bluetooth technology. We were wireless long before wireless was cool."
"We know you don't have pegs for helmets at your restaurants, and you haven't got the sound of sleds warming up to disrupt your dining. You've got the din of a bunch of self-important stuffed shirts yammering on their cell phones while they eat, instead."
(Some might recall we linked the NYT article back on Jan 14th. News hits the norlth woods in one day, but takes four days to filter down to Wassau. - Bob)
"Through an ongoing series of stories and our March, 2006 annual edition, “Innovation,” we’ll explore what’s happening on the cutting edge in northern Wisconsin."
Sen
R. Feingold"I look forward to working with members of both parties and both houses to pass the strongest possible lobbying reform bill to take on corrupting influences in Washington."
"He said the anti-abortion group he represents should have been allowed in 2004 to use its general fund to buy ads urging Senator Russ Feingold not to support filibusters of judicial nominees. Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat, was facing re-election at the time."
Rep
D. Obey"In a meeting with the editorial board of the Morning Sentinel and the Kennebec Journal, Allen, D-1st District, outlined a 14-point package aimed at reforming ethics rules in the House of Representatives -- a package Allen crafted with Democratic Reps. David R. Obey of Wisconsin, Barney Frank of Massachusetts and David E. Price of North Carolina."
""The immediacy of intervention saved my life," he said, crediting both aspirin and medical attention."
"How a veto override would fare in the 99-member Assembly remains uncertain. The Assembly passed the measure 64-32, or two votes shy of the 66 needed for a veto override."
"It's very simple," Democratic Rep. Dave Obey said in an interview. "If they got it from Abramoff they ought to give it back, and if they didn't, there's no reason to,"
"Such contributors "don't care who is in office," said WDC's executive director, Mike McCabe. "They just want to make sure they have access to and influence over who is elected.""
"That vote sent the new version of the bill back to the Senate for final approval. Both houses must approve identical versions of a bill before it can go to the governor. Doyle spokeswoman Melanie Fonder said the governor is confident his veto will survive. She declined to elaborate. "
"While McCormick sees the Republican action as an avoidance of grass-roots democracy, Gard, R-Peshtigo, is excited by the decisions of party leaders."
"What really happened, obviously, was a far cry from what the attackers had led me to believe. Incredibly, a fair number of Americans list attack radio shows as the place they get their news. Listening to talk radio for opinion and comment is one thing. But, we'd all be advised to look a little further."
"By a 7-4 vote, the council approved a policy requiring retirees to pay the entire deductible, $1,500 for the individual and $3,000 for a family. The city is required to allow retirees the opportunity to buy into the city's group health insurance plan, but that is the extent of the city's obligation, Knapp said."
Sen
R. Feingold"... the placid Alito bobbed and weaved, albeit in slow motion. (Perhaps another sports analogy: He "rope-a-doped" the committee.) Why didn't the Democrats bring in Class A help? Or why didn't they permit attorney Feingold to ask questions for the others?"
Sen
H. Kohl"In short, before we give we give you the keys to the car, we would like to know where you plan to take us."
"As Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., pointed out in questioning Alito last week, Bork rejected Supreme Court rulings that proclaimed constitutional rights to privacy, contraception and abortion, that required political districts to be equal in population and that restricted the president's power to authorize wiretaps for national security."
Rep
D. Obey"But the Senate can start out right by the folks in this region, moving on the promise to revisit low-income heating aid. The momentum of a positive, quickly decided Senate vote could prod the House into revisiting a proposal led last year by Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., to add $2 billion to LIHEAP funds in these extraordinary times."
"When wildfire dangers are low at home, Wisconsin lends assistance to other states requesting it,"
"Nonetheless, you couldn't escape the feeling Sunday, as the junior senator from Wisconsin held one of his trademark "listening sessions," that the Democrat's riding a big wave."
"The Wisconsin open meetings law, which allows for governmental bodies to go into closed session for specific issues such as buying or selling property or discussing personnel evaluations, does not make it illegal for anyone to disclose what was said in those meetings."
"The increased outsourcing of engineering work came despite agreement within the department that state engineers are cheaper than consultants. A 2004 DOT report says the state engineers cost 18% less, though the Department of Administration disputed those findings."
"Scholars say that African-American worship practices - call-and-response, rhythmic movement, jumping, dance, weeping, groaning and shouting - annoyed the church's white leaders."
"Barzen said the eagles come to winter in this area for specific reasons: the river is open because of the dam making it easy for the birds to catch fish and there are plenty of perching trees along the river where they can perch and simply watch meals come into view. The open agricultural fields also offer additional places to forage for food within a short distance of the river."
"The trackage is there and we have destinations and originations. You've got the University Hospital, the university itself, Camp Randall Stadium, the Kohl Center - all built along the rail line. The crisis with traffic congestion and gas hasn't gotten bad enough yet."
"“I’m a Reagan conservative. I believe in minimum government [and] minimum taxing and spending,” he said, adding his Republican roots honor states’ rights and free markets. Additionally, Redick called the Iraq war a debauched attempt to control oil and the Patriot Act an abuse of government power."
“I look forward to comprehensive hearings … regarding the President’s decision to authorize secret wiretaps of U.S. citizens without a court order,” Feingold said in a statement. “If the law was broken, as appears to be the case, then there needs to be accountability.”
"State Railroad Commissioner Rodney Kreunen said the state has experienced more crashes at railroad crossings in recent years as rail traffic has increased. "We've seen a resurgence in the railroad industry," he said. "From the early '90s until now, rail tonnage is up 14 percent." L
"The snow cover may not have been as thick as in years' past, but the horses at the 20th Annual Sleigh an